Rotational grazing by cattle herd reduces excessive grass fuel

Sterling Ranch, a 21^st century master-planned community with more than 1,700 homes on 3,400 acres, has implemented a fire mitigation measure that harkens back to the Old West: cattle herds.

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Sterling Ranch cattle provide fire mitigation for the Sterling Ranch, CO master-planned community via "rotational grazing." Sterling Ranch hosts a cattle drive through the community in the Fall to move the cattle to their winter grazing pasture where they will eat the long grasses and birth new calves in the Spring. Once the calves are strong, the cattle herd will be "rotated" back to their Summer pasture and eat the long grasses there to continue their own bovine fire mitigation efforts. (More photos are available by contacting Paul Suter at sutercomm@aol.com)

There are currently 220 head of cattle on Sterling Ranch (located in Douglas County, Colorado), and the herd is growing daily with the arrival of new calves. Every six months, the cattle are herded through Sterling Ranch, to-and-from their winter and summer pastures, where they graze the grass, eliminating the excessive growth that naturally fuels fires.

“Cattle grazing might seem like it would have a minimal effect on fire mitigation, but in reality, these hungry cows are devouring ‘fire energy,’” said Harold Smethills, a founder of Sterling Ranch and a Colorado rancher himself. “Cattle drives are a longtime western tradition, and grazing of cattle is a key part of the strategy of building a robust ecosystem. By grazing the land, not only is fire risk reduced, but the hooves of the cattle aerate the land, the cow manure fertilizes the land, and the low grass provides protection for all types of species from predators.”

Sterling Ranch has established itself as a community that identifies as a “steward of the land.” Before the first home was built at Sterling Ranch, the development team worked with experts to create a Prairie Management Plan. The Plan provided a roadmap for cultivating the property and the result is a vibrant prairie land that provides forage and shelter for wildlife and an incredible wildlife habitat for Sterling Ranch residents to respect and enjoy.

This spring, dozens of newborn calves will add to the Sterling Ranch cattle herd, all doing their part to contribute.

For photos or video of the Sterling Ranch cattle herd, please contact Paul Suter at sutercomm@aol.com or 720-771-9093.

More information regarding Sterling Ranch is available at www.sterlingranchcolorado.com.

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